Display package for padlocks



y 1966 H. WINKHAUS ETAL 3,251,465

DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR PADLOCKS Filed June 23, 1964 INVENTORS HANS VV/NKHA U5 W01 F GANG W/NKHAUS A 7' 7' OQA/EYS 3,251,465 Patented May 17, 1966 United States Patent Office A 3,251,465 DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR PADLOCKS Hans Winkhaus and Wolfgang Winkhaus, both of Telgte,

Westphalia,'Germany, assignors to Firma Aug Winkhaus, a corporation of Germany Filed June 23, 1964, Ser. No. 377,201 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-80) This invention relates to padlocks and refers more particularly to packaging padlocks for shipment and display.

Packaging padlocks for shipment and subsequent display in retail outlets presents the problem of adequately insuring that the keys accompanying the padlock will not be accidentally detached or separated from the package. If the keys are lost during shipping or removed by vandals while on display in the retail outlet, the padlock is rendered useless to the inconvenience and loss of the storekeeper.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a shipping and display package for padlocks. Another object is to provide a shipping and display package for padlocks in which the padlock keys are secured against accidental loss or deliberate removal by vandals.

Still another object is to provide a shipping and display package for padlocks which overcomes the shortcomings of prior art packaging means.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In achieving the aforementioned objectives of the present invention it was found advantageous to provide a padlock package which includes a flat panel which is suitable for hanging on a nail, hook orother support for displaying the padlock. The panel is provided with an opening through which extends a support strap, the support strap having parallel arms with flanged ends which prevent its removal from the panel.- The padlock is mounted on the support strap with its bolt passing through inbetween the arms. One of the arms is provided with an openingthrough which passes a split retainer ring on which is carried the padlock keys. The keys in addition to 'being attached to the retainer ring extend through the support strap in the same manner as the padlock bolt. It thus becomes virtually impossible for the keys to become separated from the padlock during shipment or while the panel is hanging on display in a retail outlet unless, they are deliberately removed by opening the retainer ring and sliding the keys therefrom.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a padlock package according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 1.

Throughout the specification like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.

Referring in detail to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the padlock package includes a substantially flat panel 11 which is provided with a nail hole 12 near the top to facilitate hanging the package on a nail, hook or other support for display purposes in a retail outlet. The panel 11 may be made of cardboard, plastic, wood or other suitable and inexpensive material. The panel 11 is also provided with a generally square opening 13 through which extends a'support strap 14. The support strap 14 has parallel upper and lower legs 15 and 16 respectively, which extend through opening 13 and terminate at the rear of the panel in oppositely directed flanges 17 and 18 respectively, the flanges being substantially perpendicular with the legs. The front of strap 14 includes an arcuate portion 19 connecting the legs at the front side of the panel. The lower leg 16 of the support strap is provided with a small opening 20 for receiving a split key retainer ring 21 on which is carried one or more keys 22 for opening padlock 23.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the bolt 24 of the padlock extends inbetween the legs 15 and 16 at the front side of the panel 11 with the padlock being locked. In this manner, the padlock may be securely supported on the support strap.

According to the invention, the package 10 is made up at the lock factory, the support strap 14 being mounted on panel 11 by inserting it through opening 13 from the rear side of the panel. The padlock 23 is then unlocked and its bolt 24 inserted through the support strap with the padlock then being locked once again. One or more keys 22 are then inserted in the support strap as shown in FIGURE 1 and alongside the bolt 24. Split key retainer ring 21 which is preferably made of spring steel or similar material, is then opened at its abutting ends 25, 26 and one end passed through opening 20 in lower leg 16 of the support strap and the opening 27 in the key or keys 22, the ends 25, 26 then being released so as to return to their abutting position closing the ring. Thus, the key or keys 22 are securely connected on the package so that during shipping or while the package is on display, the keys cannot become separated from the padlock.

While there is above disclosed but one embodiment of the padlock package of the present invention, it is apparent that still other embodiments may be produced without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

A padlock package comprising in combination with a locked-padlock having a bolt, a substantially'flat panel having parallel front and rear surfaces, and an opening extending therethrough, a support strap positioned in the opening of said panel, said support strap enclosing a portion of said bolt and supporting the padlock on the panel, said support strap comprising a pair of parallel legs having retainer flanges engaging the rear surface of said panel and an arcuate branch connecting said legs and spaced a distance from the front surface of said panel, one of said legs having an opening therein, and a key retainer ring attached to a padlock key, said retainer ring extending through the opening in said one leg of said support strap supporting said key on said support strap with a portion of the key positioned between the legs of the support strap.

References Cited by the Examiner ,UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,912 6/ 1905 Jackson 206 1,982,640 12/1934 Clark 206-80 X 2,387,639 10/1945 Bouchelle 206-80 2,944,665 7/ 1960 Obeck 206-79 FOREIGN PATENTS 893,176 4/ 1962 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

